While this mural is not part of the City of Thornton's public art collection, it is included due to its high visibility.
New developments are required to do what is called a "public land dedication" (PLD). PLDs are designed to benefit the public, and are proportional to the impact of the new development.
To fulfill their PLD requirement, developers can choose to add public amenities like parks, plazas, playgrounds, community gardens, or art. If developers choose this route, they are responsible for choosing the artists, contractors, or suppliers and paying all associated costs.
If it doesn't make sense to add public amenities, developers can choose to pay a fee to the City that is equivalent to the cost of adding public amenities. This is called cash-in-lieu fees.
Chicken N Pickle knew they wanted a unique mural for their first Colorado location, and decided to add a mural to fulfill its public land dedication requirements. Chicken N Pickle selected and contracted with an artist, and worked with City Planning and Public Art staff to create their mural proposal.
Murals are required to go through a specific process that is set by the City's Development Code. If a business wants to paint a mural on the outside of their building, they must follow code. Thornton's code says that murals can include themes and colors related to the business, but must be art - not an advertisement with business names and logos.
Mural designs are reviewed by City staff to ensure that they follow City Development Code. If the proposed design follows Code, it is reviewed by the Thornton Arts, Sciences, and Humanities Council (TASHCO) and City Council prior to being approved. Once the design has gone through all levels of review, the business owner may begin painting their mural.
The mural was painted by Brinley Ash Designs, and was funded by Chicken N Pickle. The mural is owned and maintained by Chicken N Pickle and received no funding from the City of Thornton.
